Seeking alternatives in health coverage for Boonton town workers

At last week’s meeting of the Boonton mayor and Board of Aldermen, Stephan Stenger, risk manager at Benefits Sources and Solutions Chadler (BS&SC), discussed whether or not there could be better alternatives in health coverage for town employees.

Stenger explained that the process would begin with organizing census data with the town administrator, Terry McCue, requesting claims histories from the state and performing cost-benefit analyses to explore options in either a health insurance fund (HIF) or commercial carrier market.

The HIF option can entail a grouping of municipalities that come together to pull out-of-state coverage in order to offer an alternative to state health benefits. It is a public entity owned by its members. Joining it, Stenger said, would possibly cost a $500 entry free.

"The state may actually be the very best place for you," he added.

Alderman Terry Dunn pressed Stenger on the ways in which pre-existing conditions were treated in changing carriers, bringing up concerns with denied coverage for those conditions. Stenger said he had no personal experience in that for group coverage, but there should be a "no loss, no gain" because present coverage on conditions would be picked up automatically by alternatives which they choose to explore.

"I'm hired by the town. My due-dilligence is going to be with [Boonton's] best interest. Even though there might be a better option, we have to explore whether that would be a one- or two-term hit," Stenger said.